Thunderous Dehumanization

The R rated movie Tropic Thunder directed by Ben Stiller comes to theaters tomorrow. The film coins the phrase “full retard” to describe one of its characters.

Journalist Patricia Bauer prescreened the movie and shares some of her observations:

“Stiller’s character, Tugg Speedman, is presented as a fading action hero who earlier failed in his bid for Oscar glory while portraying Simple Jack, a character with an intellectual disability. Speedman’s portrayal of Simple Jack is featured as a movie within the movie.”

Bauer describes the stereotypical protrayal of a person with a cognitive disability,

“In character, Stiller speaks in a stilted, stuttering, adenoidal fashion, and wears overalls, bad false teeth and a classic institutional bowl haircut.”

Bauer tallies the number of times slurs are used in the movie and finds (approximately):

“Number of repetitions of the word “retard” or its variations: At least 16 in the “full retard” scene alone, not counting the uses of words like “idiot,” “moron,” “moronical,” “imbecile,” “stupid,” “dumb” and “the dumbest M*****F***** that ever lived.” All are used to describe the character of Simple Jack, who is described in an introductory segment as a “mentally impaired farm hand who can talk to animals.”

Number of repetitions of the word “nigger”: Once, said by a black character criticizing a character pretending to be black.

Number of uses of other racial/ethnic/sexual epithets: None observed.”

According to the New York Times a Dreamworks spokesperson says that the movie is a satire of the excesses of Hollywood. I’ve always been annoyed by the portrayal of persons with disabilities by temporarily able-bodied people in pursuit of Oscar or Emmy nominations, and I would truly love to see a film that satirizes the Hollywood portrayal of PWDs. However, I’m finding it hard to believe that Ben Stiller is really making a sophisticated societal satire in the vein of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. Mr. Stiller’s past films, seem to have the common theme of going for crass and crude humor, although the joke is on the zipper mishap or fart or whatever, not on an entire group of people. And, it’s not like Dreamworks is advertising this movie as a societal satire. According to Bauer,

“Early promotion of the film described Simple Jack as a “retard” and an elaborate DreamWorks marketing website that was taken down this week in response to complaints carried the tagline ‘Once upon a time … There was a retard.’”

The Dreamwork website is not advertising Tropic Thunder as a societal satire, but rather quotes critics who call the movie a “knockout of a comedy” and “the funniest movie of the summer.” So, I forgive me, Mr. Stiller and Dreamworks. I’m not buying it. Your movie is not a critical satire of Hollywood’s portrayal of the full diversity of humankind. It is another movie that slurs and hurts a large segment of our population for the sake of a joke or two.

I know some people, like one of Bauer’s commenters, would say, “Get a sense of humor!” At the root of this point is the belief that cognitive diversity is not a part of humankind, and making fun of this “other” group is no big deal. And since when does one group get to tell another group that they cannot be offended by slurs, epithets, and derogatory stereotypes? Do whites get to tell blacks to not be offended by slurs? Do whites get to tell native peoples to not be offended by dancing Indian mascots? Do men get to tell women to not be offended by curse words or sexual innuendos?

I’ve written before about the pain the word “retard” causes. Like all outrageous and socially unacceptable racial and sexual slurs, this word inflicts deep pain. Dave Hingsburger over at Chewing the Fat writes a powerful letter to Mr. Stiller explaining how much it hurts to see and hear the R word.

“You hurt me a second time today, Mr. Stiller. I am writing to tell you, to hold you responsible. I arrived home and saw on a website that it is now possible to buy tee shirts with the phrase 'full retard' on it. You are responsible for this Mr. Stiller, you wrote those words, you chose those words, you went public with those words. It is you, and only you, who must bear the consequences for your actions.”

“Full retard” t shirts?! More satire, right?

Autistic advocacy.org has an on-point video about the power of words.

Many groups are advocating a boycott of Tropic Thunder. You can learn more at the United Cerebral People blog. As Timothy Shriver, Chairman of the Special Olympics says in the Washington Post,

"So, enough. Stop the hurtful jokes. Talk to your children about language that is bullying and mean. Ask your friends, your educators, your religious leaders to help us to end the stubborn myth that people with intellectual disabilities are hopeless. Ask Hollywood to get on the right side of dignity.

I hope others will join me in shutting this movie out of our lives and our pocketbooks. We don't live in times when labeling and humiliating others is funny."

Let's make our voices heard.

Addendum: Thanks to Ruth for this link to a statement of solidarity "recognizing the dignity of individuals with intellectual disabilities" and signed by many organizations including The Special Olympics, National Down Syndrome Society, and more. Check it out.

A 2nd Addendum: Checkout 2 stories on NPR. "If one group laughs at the expense of another, we don't call that humor, we call it humiliation," explains Leonard J. Davis, Professor of Disability Studies at the University of Illinois. And Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics explains why the r-word is hate speech.

Picture credit: Human Policy Press

Caught in the act!

Be careful ... you never know when Dave Hingsburger might be watching!

"Oh, God, I'm going to read about this in your blog aren't I. Oh, God."

Hilarious!

22!

Twenty two years ago (tomorrow) I was born. Here's a picture of me and my sisters at 24 days old on Christmas day, 1985. Can you guess which one is me? (a little take-off from Kay's guessing game post).



If that was too hard, here's a picture from 7 months later where clothing gives a clue:

(Hmm...why did my parents save this particular photo?)

PS - No guessing, sisters! Happy birthday to you, too!

Imagine a world without celebrity gossip

If we spent less time talking about Britney Spears ……

*The dramatic fall in gossip would lead to a gigantic reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, and global warming would slow.

*The media would have to find something else to fill their magazines, websites, and talkshows – say the Iraq War? Crises in Darfur and Somalia? Healthcare for children?

*With all our extra time, we could actually research the Presidential candidates and cast informed votes in the primaries.

*Maybe people could fill the profound silence by listening to the perspectives of minority groups, such as people with disabilities.

Move over David Letterman and BBC Ouch, here come the bloggers!

Welcome to the 21st Disability Blog Carnival! Thanks to all who participated, and thanks to our fabulous organizer, Penny Richards. The topic for this carnival is Top Ten Lists, and people put together a variety of lists on a variety of topics. There were, however, some common themes to our lists.

Charles Darwin said, “Adapt or Perish." Well, we’re adaptable…

"If you hung with us long enough you might be too,” says Midlife and Treachery's I'mFunnyToo in her post, "Top Ten Reasons for the Able to Pay Attention".

Greg Traynor from Pitt Rehab talks about how his service dog helps him in "Top Ten Reasons to have a Service Dog". “Having a service dog empowers and enables me to become more independent."

Tokah, of From Where I’m Sitting, talks about places to go to find people who need to adapt their attitudes in "Top Ten Day" - antique sailing ship, anyone?

Speaking of sailing --- Elizabeth McClung, from Screw Bronze has learned a few lessons from a recent sailing trip - lessons about rudders, EMTs, and escaping an eavesdropping boy's sexual questions.

Information Removes Barriers. The more we can know and understand about each other, the more inclusive our society can be.

Over at Arthritic Young Thing, Zephyr offers strong, specific suggestions for supporting someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She says, “Remember, it’s not about you.”

“Help me know what to expect,” and “tell me what ‘to do’, not ‘what not to do’,” says Jodi from Reimer Reasons in "Top Ten Ways to Support People With Intellectual Disabilities".

Andrea from Andrea's Buzzing About shares the "Top Ten Things About Having Face Blindness", like "less clutter around the house without a gazillion photographs of family relations."

In "How to Use The Sidewalk: Etiquette Tips for Walkies", Wheelchair Dancer explains some rules of the road. "Keep your coffee/purse/briefcase under control. I hate being hit in the face or scalded by Starbucks.”

Get the facts straight about Down Syndrome by reading Michelle’s post on Big Blueberry Eyes. Do you know: Down or Down’s? Which chromosome is affected? What’s the prevalence?

Pity the Fool.

Dave Hingsburger at Chewing the Fat has been wondering. "I wonder why people choose to work within the disability field and then resent the needs of people with disabilities."

Shawn, from Along the Spectrum, has some advice for the Autism Speaks Wright family, and for any of us consumed with pity, "Breathe in, breathe out, move on" and “When it starts to feel like everyone is against you, you are probably your own worst enemy.

Boxes, boxes everywhere; let’s dump the labels and see people as people.

The dad at Autism Bites shares his "Top 10 Snappy Answers To Annoying Comments". To “all he needs is more discipline, and he'll get the message,” he’d say, “yup, it’s true –if you give a child enough time outs, he’ll just stop being autistic. And if I speak French to you loudly enough, you’ll become fluent!”

Kathryn from Ryn Tales gets rid of boxes and sees the unexpected blessings of going to Holland. “I got to read a lot of poetry dissing the Dutch” and “the lines are shorter” and “my marriage has remained strong and wonderful.”

Charming BB's mom says, "My favorite phlebotomist is Cheryl." She shares her newly acquired language and more in "10 Things I Never Thought I'd Say."

You bet, and proud of it!

I wrote a post last April listing my tips for service providers - namely, respect, respect, and more respect. “You were not hired to be my minister, my parent or my buddy.”

Karen, an occupational therapy student and new blogger is stepping into a new world. She shares her love of her new career and learning through reading disability bloggers, “I realize, again via these blogs, that non-compliance has less to do with the client being stubborn and more to do with me not fully understanding their true needs.” Yes!! You are on your way.

People say the darndest things.

Paula Apodaca of E is for Epilepsy shares two lists full of incredibly dumb things people have said to her. “You have epilepsy so you must be retarded,” and from a doctor, “your mother was likely frightened by something while she was pregnant with you.”

“Try walking a little further each day” and other unhelpful advice makes up a list of "Top Ten things not to say to a PWME", at L’Ombre de mon ombre.

You’ll be amazed at what has been said to Jacqui of Terrible Palsy. Check it out in “Where did ya hide me M&Ms?" “He’s too good looking to have CP.” I have CP and I’m good looking – if I do say so myself! ;-)

AmpuTeeHee shares a really awful day full of insensitive stupidity, that starts with, “I know about you people” in "Tulips sure, but it’s not all wine and roses over here".

Ever wonder what it’s like to be Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie? Ema from Rainmom and Life under the Umbrella shares the "Top 10 Reasons autism is like fame" – “having your past scrutinized to discover your sins” and other similarities.

"There comes a time when even the best advocates need a day off."

Having just completed the "On Holiday!" carnival, Andrea puts together "10 Things to do Differently when on holiday: Redefining vacationing.” It’s a good compilation gleaned from the last carnival and life experience. I’m ready for another vacation – where to, Andrea?

Food connoisseur Bridget Houlihan gives Top Ten advice on wheelchair friendly dining out. Did you know that wine bars and sports bars have lower tables that tend to work better for wheelchairs? Now that I am 21, I’ll have to check that out!

There’s still time for some summer reading. Jennifer Justice at Pedestrian Hostile puts together "Top Ten Disability Lit Titles", from Sulah to Cuckoo to A Christmas Memory to Jane Eyre.

Along the same vein, Penny Richards at Disability Studies, Temple U, shares "Ten Disabled Characters" from novels on her bookshelves. She gives a detailed description of the characters and how they fit into the story lines from logging camps to love and romance to music to wise parenting. Sounds like you have quite a library, Penny!

"Inclusion Mishap #9: Due to a faulty intercom, Mrs. Snippett thought the principl said, 'You have a new student coming to your classroom. He has disabilities. Do your best to elude him."

Laugh, laugh, and laugh some more.

“You know the hardest thing about having cerebral palsy and being a woman? It’s plucking your eyebrows. That’s how I originally got pierced ears.” Ouch blogger, Dave Hingsburger shares his favorite disability quotes.

Shiva at Biodiverse Resistance lists the "Top 10 Unintentional Anthems": “I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing” and “Why?” and “Stepping Out of Line” are a few of the selections.

Also for the musically inclined, Ruth at Wheelie Catholic will have you singing along with hot tunes and classics, “I Left My Crutch in San Francisco” and “Quads Just Want to Have Fun” and “You are the Guide Dog of my Life.”

Do you know why “Normal People” wish they were disabled? Steve Kuusisto at Planet of the Blind has the answers. I hadn’t fully realized how jealous "they" were of my special powers, similarity to the Pope, and sneakiness. Thanks, Steve – this is good stuff to know..

Enough said.

Dream Mom reflects on the life lessons learned from having a child with a disability, “he taught me that children with disabilities are not children to be afraid of, but rather children to celebrate.”

Kristina Chew from Autism Vox shares the ways that she and her son Charlie are the same. Be sure to check out the comments as her readers then list the ways that they are the same as someone they love. It’s a great read – “We like school and are not happy if we miss days” and “We both like potato chips and chocolate (but not together)” and “We both love going to the beach.”

And the Number One disability theme is ….



What’s the big deal? Disability is normal. And, besides, being normal is overrated.

With help from Liz Spikol of The Trouble with Spikol it should be easy to see the arbitrariness of, ambiguity of, and disservice of labels after labels after labels in "Time is on our side".

And, Connie Kuusisto shares “My Husband is Blind. Top Ten Questions I’m Asked.” “He always looks so good. Do you pick out his clothes?” and “Does he know what you look like?” and “Shall I trim his eyebrows?” Well, Connie, don’t keep us in suspense, does Steve want his eyebrows trimmed?

Thanks for all who submitted wonderful posts for this carnival. Let me know if any of the links aren't working right. If you can't get enough Top Ten lists, check out "Ouch Top Ten". Always fun stuff there.

UPDATE: Late entry from Goldfish that fits in maybe #10, or #9, or #7 or a few places I guess. "My Top Eleven Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Chronic Illness Eleven Years Ago..." is chock full of lessons learned about living fully, such as "You are not a medical condition" and "Nobody is really going to understand what you are going through." Check it out!
One more: Over at Twinkle Little Star, Lisa lists "The Ten Most Litigous Comments Made to Me in Job Interviews." "Without my glasses, I can't see a thing. And I know I couldn't teach kids without my glasses. I just don't see how it's possible." Incredible!

The next carnival will be hosted by Reimer Reason on September 13, with entries due by September 10. Posts can be submitted via the carnival site. Update - Penny says the theme is "Resilience".

On a very serious note, two stories that we all need to be made aware of:
The tragic death of Ruben Navarro, allegedly killed by his doctor, and Utah Medicaid will no longer be paying for wheelchairs to be used outside of the home.

The pictures for this carnival all come from Dan Wilkins at The Nth Degree. If you've never checked out his site, head on over - he's got buttons, bumper stickers, and t shirts, and lots of disability culture writing.

Thanks to my mom for putting together the Disability Blog Carnival logo with Dan Wilkins Ramp Minds picture, and for putting the "numbers" on all of The Nth Degree artwork.

Descriptions of pictures: Carnival Logo: A guy with a rather absent look in his eyes has a wheelchair ramp switchbacking up to his head. He is wearing a black hat which is flipped open and several people (one in a wheelchair, one with a cane) are falling into his head. Dan Wilkins' title is Ramp Minds. "Ramp your mind at the Disability Blog Carnival" is added across the ramp. Picture number 10: a dark green t shirt with the quote, "Adapt or Perish" and a picture of the progression of humans from the chimp to the primitive man to upright man and finally to the person in a wheelchair. A purple "10" has been added in the lower right corner. Dog pin: a dark green pin with a dog pawprint and "Meet me after work for some heavy petting. Woof!" Picture number 9: a white t shirt with the words "Barrier Removal Team" written in red around a circle crossing out stairs and a red number 9 added in the lower right corner. Picture number 8: a black t shirt with bright pink lettering, "Piss on Pity" and a bright pink number 8. Picture number 7: a picture of the front and back of a black t shirt. The front shows a crossed out circle with boxes in the middle and the words "no boxes" underneath. On the back is written, "see the whole kid". A lime green number 7 has been added. Picture number 6: a beige rectangular pin with red lettering, "Feisty and non-compliant". A yellow 6 has been added. Picture number 5: a brown t shirt with white lettering, "Your attitude just might be my biggest barrier". A blue 5 has been added. Picture number 4: a black t shirt with white lettering, "There comes a time when even the best advocates need a day off." There is a picture of a fellow in a wheelchair, hair sticking up and thumbing his nose. A white number 4 has been added. Picture number 3: a white t shirt with a black, gray and white Michael Giangreco cartoon. The picture shows an adult woman (presumably Mrs. Snippett) peaking around a corner to see child in a wheelchair further down the hall. The caption reads, "Inclusion mishap #9: Due to a faulty intercom, Mrs. Snippett thought the principal said, "You have a new student coming to your classroom. He has disabilities. Do your best to elude him." A brown number 3 has been added. Picture number 2: A brown t shirt with white lettering, "I AM. Therefore, I matter." An orange number 2 has been added. Picture number 1: A brown t shirt with white lettering, "Severely normal". An aqua number 1 has been added.

Carnival Day!

Connie and Steve at Planet of the Blind will have you rolling in laughter with Carnival #17: Laughter, the Best Medicine. You can read about Marvel Comics new hero, Colin Bowel, Mistaken Identity and much more.